Opposition People’s Party (PP) has reacted to the remarks made by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on Wednesday stopping former President Dr. Joyce Banda from commenting on issues affecting the nation while in self-imposed exile, saying Banda will continue criticizing Mutharika.

Mutharika yesterday said Banda should come back home and appreciate what his government is doing to foster economy in the country.

“Muwauze aja anaba ndikuthawa dziko lino kuti abwere. Last week amanena kuti zinthu zatikanika, chakanika ndi chani? …asiye kuyankhula zachipongwe”. (Tell that person who stole money from this country and fled, to come back. Last week, she said things are not working out, what has failed?…she should stop making such allegations).

Reacting to this call, PP’s spokesperson, Noah Chimpeni, said Banda cannot stop making criticisms whenever and wherever necessary.

“There is more corruption now and in fact no one has been arrested in far as corruption is concerned. So, how can Joyce Banda stop [criticising the government]. And when the President is talking about development, those projects were started by Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika passed on to Dr. Joyce Banda and he is continuing them. Government is a continuous process,” Chimpeni said.

Banda left the country just after the May 20, 2014 tripartite election which saw President Mutharika emerging victorious.

Her trip attracted debate with others saying Banda was running away from the ongoing investigation of looting of public funds dubbed cashgate but Banda trashed the claims.